“Imagine” is already the most well-examined John Lennon album, but the new A&E documentary Above Us Only Sky is well worth watching. Here’s the network’s description: “This special traces the untold story of the making of John Lennon’s 1971 album “Imagine.” Utilizing never-before-seen footage of Lennon and Ono from their private archive, the special delves […]

In this conversation with Hey Dullblog, Chip Madinger talks about the genesis, process, and future of the ambitious Lennonology project he has undertaken with coauthor Scott Raile. Thanks to Chip for answering our questions, and to Mary Klein, who recently reviewed Lennonology: Strange Days Indeed for HD and helped write the questions. You can learn […]

Frank Zappa tells an interesting story about John and Yoko and their guest appearance at Zappa’s 1971 live album concert at the Fillmore East. After briefly meeting them through a reporter, Zappa invited John and Yoko to come to the Fillmore that evening to jam with the band. Nervous but buoyed by cocaine, The Lennons played […]

The news that David Bowie has died at age 69 has saddened people worldwide. He profoundly influenced musicians, fashion designers, and countless teenage kids who felt they were “weird” until they encountered his work. And he collaborated successfully with many other artists, including Brian Eno, Mick Jagger, and John Lennon, Bowie and John joined forces on the […]

Commenter Hologram Sam wrote in to say: “Blank On Blank finally did an animation of a John & Yoko interview. “What amazed me were the comments on the boingboing link. It looks like the anti-John backlash is growing.” To me, Sam, that’s not a backlash, just another sterling example of Homo internetius. Uncharitable opinions hastily […]

Commenter Barb L. sent along this video of John’s vocals on Don’t Let Me Down, embedded below. (h/t openculture) Related posts: Double Fantasy Live: Follow-Up Page Six on Sean Lennon Lennon on playing live John in "Nether-Nether Land"? The Ballad of La Fortuna Flashback—1969! It happened in Toronto Real or fake? “Poor old Buddy” John Lennon’s […]

Courtesy of commenter @Karen (anybody know how I can link to her commenter profile?), here’s a very interesting little snippet (possibly from LWT’s “Weekend World,” 06 April 1973), where John Lennon says a few words on Allen Klein, his soon-to-be ex-manager. As stated many times, John wasn’t always so quick to admit when he’d made […]

Eagle-eyed commenter Sonia posted this picture set regarding an earlier post, but I found it so striking, I wanted to give it a full post. David Bailey took the ones on the left. Anybody know who took the second set? Related posts: Shenk on Lennon/McCartney More on Lennon and McCartney Real or fake? “Poor […]

Salon is highlighting interview recordings made by Cass Calder Smith, including a few with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, that are now available via iTunes. Two Lennon/Ono excerpts are available for free streaming here. Smith was a New York radio host when he made the tapes; he’s now in his mid-70s, and his son has […]

DEVIN McKINNEY • Recommended reading on Yoko’s birthday. (Anyone have party plans?) Even if it does come from the dread Slate, it’s one of the few halfway objective assessments you’re going to find on the Internet (kind of a dread place in general, sometimes). Related posts: You Say it’s Your Birthday (Or Was Yesterday)?; or, […]